The Northern Territory has joined Tasmania in locking down their borders as the number of COVID-19 cases across the country rocket to 1,073.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison banned non-residents from entering the country after 9pm on Friday and advised Australians to reconsider ‘non-essential’ domestic travel as the country desperately attempts to control the deadly outbreak.
But states and territories are now taking matters into their own hands, with Tasmania and the Northern Territory imposing a 14-day quarantine for anyone who crosses their borders.
All of the beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs will be shut for the rest of the weekend amid growing concern swimmers who hit the waves on Thursday and Friday were not taking the threat seriously.
New South Wales has the highest amount of cases in the country at 436. Six of the seven COVID-19 deaths have been in the state.
The Northern Territory has joined Tasmania in locking down their borders as the number of COVID-19 cases around the country rocket to 1,073
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the tough restrictions on Saturday.
They will be implemented from 4pm on Tuesday and apply to entrance by road, rail, air and sea.
‘The government is announcing these new measures today to give Territorians as much confidence as possible that we are taking every step possible to keep you safe,’ Mr Gunner said on Saturday.
‘This is an unprecedented action for the Northern Territory. But these are unprecedented times.’
The action came after five people were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 in the NT.
‘Whether you are local or not, this applies to you,’ Mr Gunner said.
‘People that come to the Northern Territory and break this law will be punished.’
It comes after Tasmania imposed similar strict border measures for all arrivals.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the borders will be closed from 4pm on Tuesday and those who cross will be quarantined
All of the beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs will be shut for the rest of the weekend amid growing concern swimmers who hit the waves on Thursday and Friday were not taking the threat seriously. Pictured: Bondi Beach on Friday
All ‘non-essential’ travellers who arrive from midnight on Friday are required to stay in quarantine for two weeks.
Premier Peter Gutwein said people in quarantine will receive daily texts or calls reminding them of their obligations.
‘We will be doing some spot audits,’ he told reporters.
‘We will work with police, biosecurity Tasmania and public health to do what we can to ensure people understand.
‘These restrictions, and I make no apologies for them, they will be difficult for some people but we need to ensure that we keep Tasmanians safe.’
Authorities in both the NT and Tasmania advised the community that lockdowns would not impact supermarket stock.
‘As we have reiterated, do not stockpile goods. More will come in quickly to replace anything that has sold out in the supermarkets,’ Tasmania’s Minister for Transport Michael Ferguson said.
There were 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania on Saturday evening.
Tasmania have imposed strict border measures for all arrivals. All ‘non-essential’ travellers who arrive from midnight on Friday are required to stay in quarantine for two weeks
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt hit out at the hundreds of beachgoers that descended on Bondi on Friday, ignoring new rules on social distancing measures aimed to stop the virus spreading.
‘If you are breaking these rules you are putting, not just yourself, but you are putting other Australians at risk,’ he told reporters on Saturday.
The NSW government shut Bondi Beach on Saturday afternoon.
Police minister David Elliot said: ‘This is the most irresponsible behaviour we’ve seen so far.
‘This is not something we’re doing because we’re the fun police, this is about saving lives.
‘We cannot have an area where more than 500 people are gathered.
‘If the community does not comply, this is going to become the new normal.’
NSW Police were seen at Bondi Pavilion on Saturday after state officials made the decision to shut down the world-famous beach
Randwick City Council announced they would close all their beaches on Sunday in response to government measures to ‘limit the number of people on any beach to 500’.
‘This is to encourage good social distancing practices put in place to reduce the impact of coronavirus on our community,’ the council said in a statement.
‘Favourable weather conditions on Sunday means we’re likely to see more than 500 visitors to our beaches.
‘To keep our community safe and healthy we have decided to close all beaches, including Clovelly, Gordon’s Bay, Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar, Little Bay, Congwong, Frenchman’s Bay and Yarra Bay.’
Waverley Council have closed Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches until further notice.
‘We’ll review conditions each day so please keep an eye on our website and Twitter for daily beach updates,’ Randwick City Council said.
It came as NSW Health scrambled to contact thousands of people who were onboard four cruise ships which visited Sydney this month, carrying passengers infected with coronavirus.
Waverley Council has also closed Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches until further notice. Pictured: A couple at Bondi Beach smile as they emerged from the surf on Friday
The number of confirmed cases in Victoria increased by 51 overnight to 229.
They included a police officer in Melbourne and a second Melbourne University staff member who returned from overseas before the government’s mandatory quarantine period for travellers.
Western Australia reported 26 new cases as travellers arrive home from overseas, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 90.
Of the new cases, 15 are returning travellers, or those who have had close contact with travellers.
Cases of COVID-19 in Queensland jumped to 221 on Saturday, with 37 more cases.
On Friday, controversial MP Bob Katter called for the entire of North Queensland to be quarantined to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Katter said the alarmingly spread of the virus in Italy, along with a personal close-call with the pandemic, had shown him quickly it could potentially infect the state.
‘There are 41,300 cases in Italy, 3,405 people have died so you can’t take this lightly,’ Katter said.
‘This is not some backward country, this is northern Italy, with one of the most sophisticated economies on earth along with Germany.’
Ten people from a US tour group are among 17 new positive coronavirus cases in South Australia, the biggest single-day jump so far since the emergence of the pandemic. It brings the total to 67.
The tourists are part of a larger group of 18 from the US who are all now in isolation at their accommodation in the Barossa Valley, north of Adelaide.
On Friday controversial MP Bob Katter called for the entire of North Queensland to be quarantined to halt the spread of coronavirus